Blower-type fan with dual inlet arrangements

ABSTRACT

A blower-type fan comprises a housing comprising a compartment and an air outlet. A bottom of the housing includes at least one air inlet. A bobbin is mounted in the compartment of the housing and includes an axle hole for rotatably holding a central shaft of a fan wheel. The fan wheel includes a central plate and an annular ring that surrounds the central plate and that is connected to the central plate by a plurality of spokes, thereby defining at least one opening through which air is passable. A plurality of fan blades is mounted on the annular ring. A cover is engaged to the housing and includes an air inlet. When the fan wheel turns, cool air is sucked into the housing via the air inlet of the housing and the air inlet of the cover and exits the housing via the air outlet of the housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a blower-type fan with dualinlet arrangements, and more particularly to a blower-typeheat-dissipating fan for sucking a larger amount of cool air.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004]FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional blower-type heat-dissipating fanthat includes a housing 91 having a sealed bottom and an annular wall92. A bobbin 93 is mounted to an eccentric position of the bottom of thehousing 91 for rotatably supporting a fan wheel 94, and a cover 95 ismounted to top of the housing 91. The cover 95 includes an air inlet 96.When the fan wheel 94 turns, the fan blades 97 drive air current tothereby suck cool air into the housing 91 via the air inlet 96 andoutput the cool air via an air outlet 98 in the housing 91.

[0005] Nevertheless, there is only one air inlet 96 in such aconventional blower-type heat-dissipating fan for sucking cool air andthe amount of incoming air is, of course, equal to the amount ofoutgoing air for the fan. It is, therefore, impossible to increase theamount of air output without increasing the size of the blower-typeheat-dissipating fan.

SUMMARY IF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a blower-typefan with dual inlet arrangements to increase the amount of air outputwithout increasing the size of the blower-type heat-dissipating fan.

[0007] A blower-type fan in accordance with the present inventioncomprises a housing comprising a compartment and an air outlet. A bottomof the housing includes at least one air inlet. A bobbin is mounted inthe compartment of the housing and includes an axle hole for rotatablyholding a central shaft of a fan wheel. The fan wheel includes a centralplate and an annular ring that surrounds the central plate and that isconnected to the central plate by a plurality of spokes, therebydefining at least one opening through which air is passable. A pluralityof fan blades is mounted on the annular ring. A cover is engaged to thehousing and includes an air inlet. When the fan wheel turns, cool air issucked into the housing via the air inlet of the housing and the airinlet of the cover and exits the housing via the air outlet of thehousing.

[0008] Other objects, specific advantages, and novel features of theinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription and preferable embodiments when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventionalblower-type heat-dissipating fan.

[0010]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of ablower-type heat-dissipating fan in accordance with the presentinvention.

[0011]FIG. 3 is a top view of the blower-type heat-dissipating fan inFIG. 2.

[0012]FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

[0013]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment ofthe blower-type heat-dissipating fan in accordance with the presentinvention.

[0014]FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the blower-type heat-dissipating fanin FIG. 5.

[0015]FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment ofthe blower-type heat-dissipating fan in accordance with the presentinvention.

[0016]FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the blower-type heat-dissipating fanin FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Preferred embodiments in accordance with the present inventionwill now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 2, a first embodiment of a blower-typeheat-dissipating fan in accordance with the present invention generallyincludes a housing 1, a bobbin 2, a fan wheel 3, and a cover 4. Thehousing 1 includes a compartment 11 and an air outlet 12. A bottom ofthe housing 1 defining the compartment 11 includes an assembly hole 13and at least one air inlet 14.

[0019] The bobbin 2 is engaged to the bottom of the housing 1. In thisembodiment, the bobbin 2 is engaged with the assembly hole 13 of thehousing 1. The bobbin 2 may be of a conventional structure comprisingpole plates 21, a winding 22, and an axle hole 23 for rotatably holdinga central shaft 31 of the fan wheel 3.

[0020] The central shaft 31 of the fan wheel 3 is rotatably mounted inthe axle hole 23 of the bobbin 2. The fan wheel 3 includes a centralplate 32 and an annular ring 34 that surrounds the central plate 32 andthat is connected to the central plate 32 by a plurality of spokes 35. Aplurality of fan blades 33 is mounted on a side (e.g., the upper side)of the annular ring 34. Thus, a plurality of openings 36 is definedbetween the annular ring 34 and the central plate 32 to allow passage ofair. In addition, the openings 36 are aligned with the air inlets 14 inthe bottom of the housing 1.

[0021] The cover 4 is engaged on the housing 1 and includes an air inlet41. Cool air is sucked into the housing 1 via the air inlet 41 when thefan wheel 3 is rotated. Preferably, the air inlet 41 has an innerdiameter smaller than a maximum diameter of the fan wheel 3.

[0022]FIG. 3 is a top view of the first embodiment of the assembledblower-type fan in accordance with the present invention and FIG. 4 is asectional view of the first embodiment. The fan wheel 3 is mounted to aneccentric position of the compartment 11 of the housing 1 with the cover4 covering the top of the housing 1. Thus, the blower-type fan includesan upper air inlet 41, a lower air inlet 14, and an air outlet 12. Whenthe fan wheel 3 is rotated, cool air enters the housing 1 via the twoair inlets 41 and 41 and exits the housing 1 via the air outlet 12 underrotational movements of the fan blades 33. As a result, a larger amountof air output is provided to achieve a better heat-dissipating effect.

[0023]FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a second embodiment of the blower-typefan in accordance with the present invention that includes a housing 1,a bobbin 2, a fan wheel 5, and a cover 4. The housing 1 includes acompartment 11 and an air outlet 12. A bottom of the housing 1 definingthe compartment 11 includes an assembly hole 13 and at least one airinlet 14.

[0024] The bobbin 2 is engaged with the assembly hole 13 of the bottomof the housing 1 and includes pole plates 21, a winding 22, and an axlehole 23 for rotatably holding a central shaft 51 of the fan wheel 5.

[0025] The central shaft 51 of the fan wheel 5 is rotatably mounted inthe axle hole 23 of the bobbin 2. The fan wheel 5 includes a centralplate 52 and an annular ring 54 that surrounds the central plate 52 andthat is connected to the central plate 52 by a plurality of spokes 54.Extending radially outward from an outer periphery of the annular ring55 is a plurality of fan blades 53. Thus, a plurality of openings 56 isdefined between the annular ring 55 and the central plate 52 to allowpassage of air. In addition, the openings 56 are aligned with the airinlets 14 in the bottom of the housing 1. When the fan wheel 5 rotates,a sucking force is provided in an area above the fan blades 53 and anarea below the fan blades 53.

[0026] The cover 4 is engaged on the housing 1 and includes an air inlet41. Cool air is sucked into the housing 1 via the air inlet 41 when thefan wheel 5 is rotated. Preferably, the air inlet 41 has an innerdiameter smaller than a maximum diameter of the fan wheel 5.

[0027]FIG. 6 illustrates a sectional view of the second embodiment,wherein the fan wheel 5 and the bobbin 2 are mounted in the compartment11 of the housing 1 with the central shaft 31 of the fan wheel 5rotatably supported in the axle hole 23 of the bobbin 2 and with thecover 4 covering the top of the housing 1. Thus, the blower-type fanincludes an upper air inlet 41, a lower air inlet 14, and an air outlet12. When the fan wheel 5 is rotated, cool air enters the housing 1 viathe two air inlets 41 and 41 and exits the housing 1 via the air outlet12 under rotational movements of the fan blades 53. As a result, alarger amount of air outlet is provided to achieve a betterheat-dissipating effect.

[0028]FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a third embodiment of the blower-type fanin accordance with the present invention that includes a housing 1, abobbin 2, a fan wheel 6, and a cover 4. The housing 1 includes acompartment 11 and an air outlet 12. A bottom of the housing 1 definingthe compartment 11 includes an assembly hole 13 and at least one airinlet 14. In this embodiment, a portion of the bottom of the housing 1is recessed and thus protrudes outward beyond the housing 1.

[0029] The bobbin 2 is engaged with the assembly hole 13 of the bottomof the housing 1 and includes pole plates 21, a winding 22, and an axlehole 23 for rotatably holding a central shaft 61 of the fan wheel 6.

[0030] The central shaft 61 of the fan wheel 6 is rotatably mounted inthe axle hole 23 of the bobbin 2. The fan wheel 6 includes a centralplate 62 and an annular ring 64 surrounding the central plate 62. Aplurality of fan blades 63 is mounted on a side (e.g., the upper side)of the annular ring 64. The annular ring 64 is connected to the centralplate 62 by a plurality of auxiliary fan blades 65. The auxiliary fanblades 65 may be conventional axial flow type fan blades. Thus, aplurality of openings 66 is defined between the annular ring 64 and thecentral plate 62 to allow passage of air. In addition, the openings 66are aligned with the air inlets 14 in the bottom of the housing 1. Whenthe fan wheel 6 rotates, the auxiliary fan blades 65 provide anincreased effect in sucking cool air into the housing 1.

[0031] The cover 4 is engaged on the housing 1 and includes an air inlet41. Cool air is sucked into the housing 1 via the air inlet 41 when thefan wheel 6 is rotated. Preferably, the air inlet 41 has an innerdiameter smaller than a maximum diameter of the fan wheel 6.

[0032]FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the third embodiment, wherein thefan wheel 6 and the bobbin 2 are mounted in the compartment 11 of thehousing 1 with the central shaft 61 of the fan wheel 6 rotatablysupported in the axle hole 23 of the bobbin 2 and with the cover 4covering the top of the housing 1. Thus, the blower-type fan includes anupper air inlet 41, a lower air inlet 14, and an air outlet 12. When thefan wheel 6 is rotated, cool air enters the housing 1 via the two airinlets 41 and 41 and exits the housing 1 via the air outlet 12 underrotational movements of the fan blades 63. As a result, a larger amountof air outlet is provided to achieve a better heat-dissipating effect.

[0033] According to the above description, it is appreciated that, bymeans of providing an air inlet arrangement in each of the bottom of thehousing and the cover and providing openings aligned with the air inletsin the bottom of the housing, cool air is sucked into the housing viathe air inlet arrangements in the bottom of the housing and the coverand then exits the housing via the air outlet in the housing duringrotational movement of the fan blades of the fan wheel, therebyincreasing the amount of air output of the blower-type fan.

[0034] Although the invention has been explained in relation to itspreferred embodiment as mentioned above, it is to be understood thatmany other possible modifications and variations can be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. It is, therefore,contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications andvariations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A blower-type fan comprising: a housingcomprising a compartment and at least one air outlet, a bottom of thehousing defining the compartment including at least one air inlet; abobbin mounted in the compartment of the housing and including an axlehole; a cover engaged to the housing at a level above the compartment,the cover including an air inlet; and a fan wheel including a centralshaft rotatably mounted in the axle hole of the bobbin, the fan wheelincluding a central plate and an annular ring that surrounds the centralplate and that is connected to the central plate by a plurality ofspokes, thereby defining at least one opening through which air ispassable, a plurality of fan blades being mounted on the annular ring;wherein when the fan wheel turns, cool air is sucked into the housingvia said at least one air inlet of the housing and the air inlet of thecover and exits the housing via said at least one air outlet of thehousing.
 2. The blower-type fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said atleast one air inlet of the housing is aligned with at least one openingof the fan wheel.
 3. The blower-type fan as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe annular ring and the central plate of the fan wheel are connected bya plurality of auxiliary fan blades for driving cool air toward thecentral plate.
 4. The blower-type fan as claimed in claim 4, wherein theauxiliary blades are axial flow type fan blades.
 5. The blower-type fanas claimed in claim 4, wherein the bottom of the housing defining thecompartment includes a recessed portion that protrudes outward beyondthe housing.